Device for moistening and affixing postage-stamps



(No Model.)

w. W. HAMILTON. DEVICE FOR MOISTENING AND APPIXING POSTAGE STAMPS. No.445,993.

Patented Feb. 10,1891.

UNITED STATES \VALTER V. HAMILTON, Ol"

ATENT @rricn.

SALEM, lllASSACllUSE'lTS DEVICE FOR MOISTENING AND AFFIXlNGPOSTAGE-STAMPS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 445,993, dated February10, 1891.

Application filed August 18,1890. Serial No. 362,262. (No model.)

To all who? it may concern:

Be it known that I, WALTER W. HAMILTON, of Salem, in the county ofEssex, State of Massachusetts, have invented certain'new and usefulImprovements in Devices for Moistening and 'Affixing Postage-Stamps. ofwhich the following is a description sufficiently full, clear, and exactto enable any person skilled in the art or science to which saidinvention appertains to make and use the same, reference being had tothe accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in whichFigure 1 is a perspective view illustrating my improvement in use; Fig.2, a side elevation of the device; Fig. 3, a vertical transverse sectionof the same, taken on line x 00 in Fig. 2; and Fig. l, a view partly invertical section.

Like letters and figures of reference indicate corresponding parts inthe different figures of the drawings.

My invention relates to a device for attaching. postage-stamps toletters, &c.; and it consists in certain novel features hereinafterfully set forth and claimed, the object being to produce a simple,cheap, and effective de vice of this character.

The nature and operation of the improvement will be readily understoodby all conversant with such matters from the following explanation:

In the drawings, A represents the body of the device, which consists ofa rectangular box of a diameter slightly greater than the stamps. Thebox is open at its bottom I). A moisteuer B is fitted to slidevertically on one side of the box, said moistener comprising a tankprovided in its top with a supply-duct d. A dauber f, of felt or similarabsorbent material, projects from the bottom of the tank.

A vertically-arranged fork g is secured to one across the mouth of thebox or holder, and are adapted to support the stamp D therein. Anejector or plunger-block o is fitted to slide in the holder A. (See Fig.4.) Said block has an undercut groove w, in which two cam-blocks y arefitted to slide, the toes of said cams projectin g into the slots I.,respectively, of said holder. A plunger-bar O, pro vided with a knob orhandle 2, is fitted to slide vertically through the top j of the holder,and is cushioned or supported by a coiled spring 15. A plate 16 preventsthe plunger from rotating in the box, and a pin 17 prevents it frombeing withdrawn too far. The lower or inner end of the plunger-bar iscurved or cam-shaped at 18 to adapt it to be projected between thecam-blocks y, spreading said blocks and forcing them against the flatspring-holders 'm.

In the use of my improvement the stamps D are arranged in a pile andinserted in the holder A, with the gnmmed sides toward its mouth, inwhich they are retained by the spring-arms t, which engage the outerstamp, as shown in Fig. 3. The tank of the moistener B is filled withivater, which moistens the pad f. Said pad is drawn across that portionof the envelope H (see Fig. 1) or other article to which it is desiredto affix the stamp. The plunger-bar O is then forced downward againstthe pressure of the spring 15. This drives the plunger-block 1) againstthe pile of stamps D. At the same time the head 18 of said bar spreadsthe cams y, driving them into the slots t, and forcing the free ends ofthe springs m outward, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 3. The gummedsurface of the outer stamp eomin g into contact with the moistenedenvelope adheres thereto. The plunger-bar being released is forcedupward by the spring 15, freeing the cams 1 and permitting the springs mto fly inward, their arms '6 passing over the stamp thus attached andpreventing others from falling. The device'may be rapidly operated,consecutively placing all the stamps in the holder as the plunger isoperated.

Having thus explained myinvention, what I claim is p 1. A device forattaching postage-stamps, comprising a box or holder combined with a ICOplunger-block therein, cam-plates fitted to slide on said block, aspring-cushioned plunger-bar for spreading said plates, and springsactuated by said plates for releasing the stamps from said holder,substantially as described.

2. In a device of the character described, a box or holder provided withslots in its Walls, in combination with flat springs disposed in saidslots and having arms projecting into the mouth of said holder, aplunger fitted to slide in the box, and cams for spreading said springsas the plunger descends, substantially as described.

3. In a device of the character described, the combination ofstamp-holder, a plunger for forcing the stamps therefrom, spring-armsdetachably retaining the stamps therein, and cams on said plunger formoving said arms to release the stamps, substantially as described.

4 In a device of the character described, the slotted holder providedwith the retaining-spring, in combination with a plunger provided withsliding cam-plates fitted to Work in said slots, and a spring-cushionedplunger-bar adapted to spread said plates, substantially as and for thepurpose set forth.

5. In a device of the character described, the holder A, provided withslots 7' and retaining-springs 7, in combination with a plunger fittedto slide in said holder, sliding cams on said plunger Working in saidslots, and a plu 11- ger-bar for conjointly actuating the plunger andspreading said cams, substantially as set forth.

\VALTER XV. HAMILTON.

Vitnesses:

WALTER (J. DUNNELS, LORENZO DUNNELS.

